TWO would-be superstars have successfully taken their first steps on the rocky road to fame.

Alistair Griffin, a 25-year-old from Whitby, and Gary Phelan, a 20-year-old from Newcastle, were among the first four to win places at this year's BBC Fame Academy after a live musical contest on prime-time TV.

But it was bad news for Daniel O'Shea, a 20-year-old guitarist and songwriter from York, whose version of She's the One failed to sufficiently impress the judges, who included former Bee Gee Robin Gibb.

Alistair, a songwriter and busker, won his place in the academy with his version of Back for Good, and said he was delighted and surprised at his success.

Alistair, who is already being tipped by the bookies as a potential winner, said: "I have been through so much and you start to prepare yourself to come second.

"I auditioned last year and did not make it through, so I have been practising loads.

"But it is going to take a while to get used to it."

Gary won his place in the academy when it was up to the new students to make the final choice of the night.

After singing Stand By Me, he got a unanimous vote.

He said: "The nerves really got to me. I was standing crying in the end. I guess that blew the tough guy image."

The live audition shows for places in the Fame Academy continue on Wednesday, Saturday and August 6, after which the 13 chosen hopefuls will begin their intensive training.

The ultimate winner will take home a contract with record label Polydor, the company behind international-selling artists Eminem, 50 Cent, Sting, Ian Brown, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Ms Dynamite.

They will also land a show-biz lifestyle for a year, including a luxury flat, a car, a recording session at the Abbey Road studios, a luxury holiday for two, a personal stylist and tickets to some of the year's biggest events.